Byureghavan Head Assures: No Documentation Confirming a Link Between Residents’ Hospitalizations and Water Quality

Arminfo. Despite the call by the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) urging residents of the Bureghavan community to temporarily refrain from using tap water following another outbreak of intestinal infection, community head Hakob Balasanyan claims that at present there is no documentation confirming a connection between cases of hospitalization with symptoms of poisoning and water quality. He stated this in a conversation with journalists on September 7.

Moreover, according to Balasanyan, there are numerous studies proving that the water is clean. "There is not a single approved document confirming that the poisoning of the village residents is linked to the quality of the water. It is exactly the opposite—there are numerous studies confirming that the water is clean. For example, CJSC "Veolia Jur", as well as other organizations," the community head stated.

He noted that all the details of what happened would be examined as part of the criminal case that had been initiated. Regarding the condition of the hospitalized residents of Bureghavan, Balasanyan assured that there were no serious cases. "Nine people sought medical assistance with problems, and three were hospitalized," Balasanyan noted.

Speaking about what is being done to clean the pipelines, the community head noted that their structure has neither the authority nor the obligations in this area. "We mainly carry out anti-epidemic sanitary and hygienic measures. The rest is the responsibility of the Water Committee. As for what the hospitalizations are connected with, this question should be answered by the body responsible for it, the relevant agency. It is not that I am saying it is not because of the water; I am only saying that this information has not been confirmed," the head of the Bureghavan community stated.

And despite the NCDC’s calls to temporarily refrain from using tap water, the community head suggested boiling and using it. "Moreover, I would note that many residents of Bureghavan, including our employees, usually drank ordinary spring water; they never bought water. And they continue to use it now as well. As for the person who disseminated this statement, let them answer this question themselves. Regarding the water supply, together with "Veolia Jur" we intend to implement a joint project so that it is available around the clock," the community head stated.

Meanwhile, acting director of the Bureghavan city polyclinic Armen Vardumyan reported that they had been receiving calls until the morning, 24 in total. "Of the three hospitalized patients—children aged 3, 5, and 12—their condition is currently satisfactory. The calls are continuing to come in today; we are overloaded with work," Vardumyan stated.

At the same time, he clarified that the hospitalization of children in particular is linked to the fact that they simply tolerate dehydration more poorly. "Therefore, in such cases, children are hospitalized most often," explained the acting director of the Bureghavan City Polyclinic.

Let us recall that on September 6, Armenia’s Ministry of Health reported that six citizens had sought medical assistance with complaints characteristic of an intestinal infection. According to the source, three of them were receiving treatment in the infectious diseases department, while the others were provided with outpatient medical assistance. On September 7, the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) of Armenia’s Ministry of Health urged Bureghavan residents to temporarily refrain from using tap water, including for cooking. In turn, former Justice Minister and former deputy speaker of the Armenian parliament Arpine Hovhannisyan drew attention to the fact that this was already the third such case in four months. She noted that "Veolia Jur" bears direct responsibility for the quality of the water supply, while the government of the Republic of Armenia bears political responsibility for oversight and the situation that has developed.

It should be noted that this is not the first case when people have reported poor water quality and cases of hospitalization due to intestinal infection. On July 17, Armenia’s Ministry of Health stated that the republican ambulance service had received a total of 15 calls overnight. Later, former Justice Minister Arpine Hovhannisyan reported that she had periodically arranged examinations of the water supplied by "Veolia Jur". According to her, it became known that during the summer schedule, when the water supply becomes insufficient, the company began mixing it with artesian water, which has a high level of hardness. Thus, as the former Armenian justice minister pointed out, in various settlements across the country this indicator exceeded the permissible level established by the Ministry of Health.